One thing that most rapists and serial killers have in common is collecting mementos. From each crime scene and victim the criminal will take a personal item from the scene. It is a trophy; something to remind he or she vividly of the activity that transpired. It is not about the piece of jewelry or the article of clothing. It is about the crime. Many police report that they will take only part of something. One piece of a clothing set, one earring, one cufflink. Their purpose is not just to take one item, but to ruin the piece that is left. In a way they are reminding you that you are ruined too. That item will never be the same again, and neither will you. It is a way to relive the power and control of the situation time and time again, long after the crime has been committed. It is a means of controlling the high that person felt while they were in complete power.

Extreme controllers will do that too. They will take something they don't necessarily want or need. They want it for no other reason than someone else wants it. Their purpose isn't in having the item, it is in the taking of it. The pride isn't in owning it, but the knowledge of who they took it away from. It is a memento of murder. The relationship that was murdered in the taking of that memento.

As Christians we need to remember several things. First, these items are only things. Yes, it may be a reminder of a departed loved one, but that's all it is. Just a reminder. What was taken from you was not the person, just the reminder.

Second, it is only stuff. An old pastor that I had used to say, "I've never seen a hearse with a U-Haul (TM)." Down here we need to love people, not stuff. We can enjoy stuff. We can use the stuff that makes our lives easier. There is no doubt that we will accumulate stuff, but at the end of the day it is just stuff. After you are gone someone will come through your house and throw out most of your stuff, taking only the mementos they want to keep.

Third, pray for these people. Pray hard and pray often. Their priorities are screwed up. They place a higher value in things than in people. Hurting another person is just no big deal to them. They live in an isolated and lonely world with their trophies of murdered relationships. This isolation and loneliness leads them to further control, and more damaged relationships.

Lastly, we need to keep in mind that these people who are wielding control and power like a weapon, are deeply hurting and flawed individuals. Hurt people hurt other people. I wonder if they even realize the damage they are doing when they do it. I flip back and forth on that one. One side of me thinks they thrive on the power and control of taking and hurting someone else, while the other side of me thinks they are so wrapped up in their own pain they are incapable of seeing anyone or anything else but their own pain. I suppose that could go either way.

We should be collectors too. Collectors of souls for God. When we run across people like this, it is our Christian duty to use every tool in our arsenal to show this person God's love and forgiveness. Yes, they hurt you. Sometimes deeply. Sometimes irreparably, at least by human standards. But God is not human. God specializes in the impossible. He craves you coming to Him and asking (begging) for help.

The most powerful tools we have are love and prayer. Let's wield them without mercy in our efforts to lead these deeply hurting people to Christ.

Last night I attended a pop up meeting with my writers group. It was the first time I had attended one, so I did not know what to expect. I figured we would all talk about writing, and since it is a Christian organization I figured God would have a prominent part is what we were doing. What I was pleasantly surprised to find was that it was also about our own personal needs, rather than just what we were working on. We were there not only to further our writing, and to praise God with our works, but to get to know one another on a personal level. Deep down we all have needs. We are imperfect humans. We are subject to sin and temptation. The fight is real, and it is a hard one.

Having other believers that I can spend time with helps. The big churchy word for that is Fellowship. You see God knew we needed support. That's why he created Eve from Adam. We need friends. Have you ever known anyone that had no friends and was completely isolated and alone? Often they are cranky and mean. They have an expectation that everything should be the way they want it. Their social skills are somewhat lacking, and they are generally not pleasant to be around. This is not how God intended for us to live. We are meant to be part of a community.

The Bible says that good friends are to be treasured. They are hard to come by sometimes. People seem to have their own agenda these days. When you find someone trustworthy and loyal, keep them close. They are worth far more than money.

I encourage you to find your community, your tribe, your peeps, or whatever you choose to call your own like-minded people. A great place to start is your church. If you are a writer, I encourage you to check out your local writers groups. There are some that have an online presence like Inspire Christian Writers does. With programs like Skype, FaceTime, and GoToMeeting, there is no reason not to have a connection with others. Find common interests and start there. It can be a gardening club, a fine dining group, or people that help the homeless. What is your passion? What do you care about? Find those people and start making connections. I promise you, it will be worth it.

I've had people tell me that they don't believe in God because it just doesn't make sense to them. There is an entity out there with powers far beyond what we can even imagine that created this universe so intricately that it all fits together perfectly. Really?

Yes! Really. Think of it like this:

A bear was walking through the woods (we've all heard a version of this), and comes across a cabin. The bear says to his buddy, "look at that. There is no way that a human could have ever created that. Look how the logs all fit together perfectly. And they created light for the inside. Not possible! Food in metal cans. Cars that run on old decayed fossils! No Way! It doesn't make any sense to me. There is no way that humans are that advanced that they could figure stuff like that out."

The buddy bear says, "yeah. No way. Let's grab some lunch off what they think they invented."

What we think and what God thinks are so different there is no way we could ever conceive of what His thoughts and skills might be. What seems like a miracle to a dog, when a Veterinarian heals him, is just an everyday occurrence for us. Imagine trying to make sense of the world from another species' point of view. That's what we are trying to do.

And to top it all off, we are telling God that he isn't capable of doing any of it because we just don't believe it.

Just like the bear has to open his mind to the possibilities of what we humans know we can do, so do we humans have to open our minds to what God can do. To think that we are the most intelligent creatures in the universe is arrogant. We had to come from somewhere.

Last night I got to attend a women's ministry function called The Art of Prayer by Lori Hartin of Lady Bug Ministries. When I was initially invited, I thought it was a craft night. Being a crafty person (often on more than one way) I thought we would be making paper flowers or wall hangings while talking about God and meeting new people. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the evening was so much more.

Lori, a personal friend of mine, spoke of the difficult journeys she has traveled, including the loss of an unborn child, and a fight with cancer. During that time, she worked her way through the troubles of life through prayer. But it wasn't just prayer. It was prayer, focusing on specific Bible verses that were laid on her heart, through art. She spoke about how we are all talented in one way or another. God has given us all an array of artistic talents that we have forgotten about. Many of us have not used these talents since we were in school. Through Lori's encouragement, we combined the two, artistic talents and prayer, into a moving and uplifting evening.

We always like to think we know the best way to do things. We are smart. Our greatest minds can figure any problem out and come up with a solution. No one can stop man when he is on a mission to conquer a problem.

Researchers discover new and better treatments and medicines every day. Some really are better, and some, tragically are not. After a few years on the market, drugs are often pulled and faced with multi-million, if not billion dollar law suits.

Procedures that are supposed to be good, often turn out to be more harmful in the long run. For example, certain weight loss surgeries that were touted as the answer to every problem, are now leaving their recipients with lifelong side effects and physical damage that no one had anticipated. Cosmetic surgeries fail, and people often regret what they once thought was a good idea. We can be left scarred and in worse shape than when we started.

We do not know everything,

And the way we treat each other is not immune to this. When we are kids, we had rules. We must be polite. We all stick together as families. We do not call each other names, or put one another down. But something happens to us when we grow up. We put away all of these rules and manners and somehow think that we know better than everyone else about everything. We want to make up our own rules. We label each other with vicious names, attack each other, and even try to sabotage each other in our quest to always be the best. We order each other around like slaves, and become offended when others stand up to us and question our self-imposed authority. We randomly put ourselves in charge of things we know nothing about, and then become shocked and astounded when we are challenged. I am in charge, who are you to question me?

But there is one problem.

We do not know everything.

Colossians 2:23 (paraphrased) tells us that the ways of man are severe and harsh on the body, and lack value is restraining sensual pleasures.

Do not lean on our own understanding of the world (Proverbs 3:5-6) but trust in God. After all, he is the Creator of all things. He knows how the body and the mind are to work together. He knows what is best for us. He established the law and the order of things. In our own arrogance, we stray away from the natural order of things in order of lift ourselves up and make ourselves better than we really are. We seek the attention and adoration of man rather than the attention and love of God.

Let's approach life with eyes wide open and a new appreciation for God. When a situation presents itself, do research and see what has happened to others before you. When someone tries to manipulate and degrade you, to amplify themselves, leave. These are not the people you want to associate with. Seek out others who put God first. Attend a good Bible-based church and get the tools you need to survive in the world. The Bible has the answers for what you need.

God tells us to Love one another.
When someone is in need, help them, even to the point of sacrifice yourself.
Turn the other cheek.

We are all God's creatures. Let's start taking care of each other, instead of knocking each other down for our own benefit.

Well done my good and faithful servant. Those are the words we all want to hear when we reach Heaven-- and we all saw a perfect example of what that looks like with this year's MTV music awards this week.

Chris Pratt was this year's recipient of the MTV Generation Award. He had a platform to reach literally millions of people, and he took that opportunity to praise God. And he did it in an inviting, endearing, approachable, loving, and very funny way.

Well done Chris Pratt! You are an example not only to the younger generation you are trying to reach and influence, but also to those of us in positions to be leaders and influencers in our own area of influence.

With the two major celebrity suicides this week, it is hard to ignore this topic.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Phone Number

1-800-273-8255

Let me first say SUICIDE IS NOT THE ANSWER! If you are feeling that you need to take your own life, seek help! Don't stop and think about what other people think about you and who will be gossiping. Get help now, and deal with the nay-sayers later.

Life is hard. It's hard just to survive from day to day. Most Americans are now living paycheck to paycheck with two incomes. Time is short, work is stressful, and everyone we know seems to let us down. We are constantly being hurt the most by the people that are supposed to love us the most, but somehow that love never seems to happen.

Now, here's where we get controversial. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that if you commit suicide you will go to Hell. The idea that the church leans on is based on the story of Judas. After betraying Christ, Judas committed suicide, and we are told that he went to hell. But, it does not say that he went to hell for the suicide. He committed an act of betrayal and treachery against the Son of God. The teaching of the church is an inference, and it may be a valid one, but it may not. We simply do not know based on the Scriptures. For our answers we need to seek God. Ask Him what you want to know. Go to the source. Absolutely consult with your pastor or priest. But if the answer does not lead you toward healing, ask someone else. Get a second opinion. You can do that! It's not just for medicine.

But the church does teach that you absolutely have a purpose. "Before you were knit together in your mother's womb, I knew you." God planned your existence before the beginning of time. You were no accident. You were not unplanned, or unwanted. You are not unloved. The Great God of the universe has a reason and a purpose for your life. Don't cut that short. Explore it, find it, fulfill it.

I encourage you to tell your doctor. Tell a nurse or a therapist. Confide in a trusted friend if you have one. Call the suicide prevention hotline. It is anonymous, and they are there because they care, and they want to help you. You are the most important person in the world at that moment, and they have help to offer.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Phone Number

1-800-273-8255

If you are not a church member, I encourage you, walk into a church and ask for help. Look for a Bible based, Christ centered church, not a fad or a cult. Send me an email if you like, or need help finding a good church. If you can speak to the pastor great. If you can't, tell an usher, elder, deacon, or even another parishioner. Tell someone. If that person can't help you they will find someone who can.

What I am saying to you is that PEOPLE CARE. If the people close to you don't, then FIND SOME NEW PEOPLE!

Life is too short to be miserable. This life is just practice for all eternity. We are here on a dry run. This life has time limits, but eternity is forever, Seek God here while you can. He has the answers for now, and later.

We can't all preach like Paul, save a nation like Abraham Lincoln, or start a movement like Martin Luther and Martin Luther King. But we can all do something.

We are called to make a difference in our own lives and in the lives of others. God doesn't keep score and count the numbers. He counts the intent. Have you preached to billions like Billy Graham, or do you spend your free time checking on your shut-in neighbors and bringing them food? The intent is the same.

If your neighbors aren't Christian, do they see you getting into your car each Sunday morning and heading to church as a silent witness to your dedication to God?

Have you sacrificed so your family can have more? God sees that.

You see, the one of us that want have more honor and glory for ourselves will not. And those who do not seek honor and glory will get it. The Bible says, "the first shall be last, and the last shall be first." The more you put others' need above your own, the greater you will become in the eyes of God. That's what His Son, Jesus did for us. He gave everything, stepping down from the throne of God to become a man, and a humble man at that.

"For the meek shall inherit the earth."

We tend to think of this life as all there is. What we accomplish here is what we get. That is not how Heaven works. This life is just a test to see how we will spend all eternity.

So think about it. What can you do that would please God. Make a list:

Help a neighborSing in the choirBring food to a needy familyHelp a sick friend or relativeBe an example at workEncourage othersGive away BiblesMarch on your nation's leaders to make a changeStand up against wrongJoin a Bible studyGet a degree to educate yourself

The list is endless. Use your talents to help others. Everyone has talents, from being kind and cool under pressure to mediating explosive situations. From cooking hot dogs in the church kitchen for hungry kids, to serving 7 course meals to the rich who don't know Jesus. From volunteering to teach VBS to kids at your local church, to becoming a professor of Biblical studies at the highest ranking university. God sees the intent in your heart, and He counts it all as greatness to expand His kingdom, one heart at a time.

So what will you do with the Great Calling He has laid down for you? Will you follow that call? He's waiting for your first move.

You've probably heard it said "God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called." That's true. He does not want perfect people to do his calling. He wants dedicated people to follow that call. He will provide what we need to get the job done.

Making excuses for yourself is an insult and affront to the One who created you exactly as you are. Yes, the world has some devastating effects on us. But instead of letting that beat you down---as the world, and people intend--- use it as an opportunity to show God's glory and strength instead.

The fastest way to build yourself up is to knock someone else down. When that happens to you, pray for your enemies. Learn to redefine the word enemy. It has traditionally (modernly) been used as a term for those entities or countries that our country is at war with. But expand that definition. It is all who seek to bash God for their own insecurity. It is those who target (persecute) you because of who and what you are. Your enemies can include your own family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, church members, the list is endless. Anywhere people are, the potential for jealousy, coveting, and insecurity.

We must learn to accept our own weakness and not blame it on others, or the world, or on anyone or anything else. It is the cards we have been dealt. Learn to be happy with the hand you were given. It is not the world's fault, it is what you carry inside you.

Look at our prime examples from the Bible of how God used ordinary people to show His own strength, then think about what you can do for Him.

God Cannot Use Me...The next time you feel like God can't use you, just remember...~ Noah was a drunk~ Abraham was too old~ Isaac was a daydreamer~ Jacob was a liar~ Leah was ugly~ Joseph was abused, sold into slavery, and imprisoned wrongly~ Moses was a murderer, and had a stuttering problem~ Gideon was afraid~ Samson had long hair and was a womanizer~ Rahab was a prostitute~ Jeremiah and Timothy were too young~ David was an adulterer and a murderer~ Elijah was suicidal~ Isaiah preached naked~ Jonah ran from God~ Naomi was a widow~ Job went bankrupt~ John the Baptist ate bugs~ Peter denied Christ, three times~ The disciples fell asleep while Jesus was praying~ Martha worried about everything~ The Samaritan woman was divorced (more than once)~ Zaccheus was too small~ Paul started out persecuting Christians, when he converted he was "too religious"~ Timothy had an ulcer~ Lazarus was dead!

What's your excuse? I'll bet you can't top anything in this list, and God still used and celebrated them. He's waiting for you. Stop denying yourself and your calling. Let God celebrate with you and make you whole in His own image and His own destiny for you.

"Nobody likes a know-it-all" my mother used to say. And she was right. We all know those people who are experts at everything, even things they have never tried, learned, or otherwise know anything about. They are everywhere. It essentially stems from very low self esteem, jealousy, or other broken human emotions. This world is driven by competition and the absolute need to be the biggest, best, first, or most at everything, but to be the best, we must first learn from the best.

​Proverbs says "Seek counsel from the wise." That means people that know what they are talking about. You would not seek medical advice from an auto mechanic. You would not ask a politician about gardening (unless they were an avid gardener). So why take advice from a know-it-all when they can't possibly know everything?

​We must all take a step back from our insecurities and jealousy to see if we really know what is best in any given situation. There is no way that we can all be good at everything. That is why there are so many different occupations out there. If your house was on fire you would not call the library and ask them what to do. You would call the experts... the fire department.

​So be your own expert, not everyone else's. Study and learn what you want to be an expert at, and learn to listen to the people that are already experts in their own right, in that same field. We all have gifts and talents given to us by God. Indulge yours. Feed yours. Take the time to learn yours. Listen to the experts that have been there before you, for they truly know what they are talking about. Give way to a teachable spirit so that God can take that passion He gave you, and teach you to do the things He has prepared you to do.